Stuart Hugh Minto Russell was born on 18 January 1909 to Sir Charles Lennox Somerville Russell and Lady Russell from Crooksbury Hurst in Surrey. For his education he attended Rugby School.
Russell stood as Conservative candidate in the Parliamentary constituency of Darwen in Lancashire at the 1935 General Election. He stood to become a Member of Parliament against Liberal Party leaderHerbert Samuel and a Labour candidate. The local party chairman, Colonel Felix Knowles, telegraphed Stanley Baldwin to query the Liberal Party statements that Baldwin would like to see Herbert Samuel returned as MP. In response, Baldwin telegraphed - He was described by The Times as 'a young man with a personality' and so impressed the Conservative candidate selection committee in Darwen that they started a fund for his campaign. It was the first time that the constituency party had ever established a fund for a candidate.
Parliamentary Service
Maiden Speech
After entering the House of Commons, Russell's maiden speech on 22 April 1936 in a debate of the question, "That it is expedient to amend the law relating to the National Debt, Customs and Inland Revenue and to make further provision in connection with finance". He rose at 16.59 began his first remarks to the house -
Following the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, the Labour Party put forward a vote of censure due to the government's handling of the crisis. The vote took place on 23 June 1936 with the motion of censure defeated by 384 to 170. The Times noted that Russell felt that, "the Government were blessed for having kept an unprepared nation out of a European war fought on behalf of the League".
Working Hours
He spoke in general support of a reduction of working hours with the proviso that, "...this can be done without determent to the prosperity of the industry concerned". He also supported, "...the action of His Majesty's Government in resisting proposals which would endanger the earnings of British workers".
Russell was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Under Secretary of State for Air, Sir Phillip Sassoon between 1936 and 1937. He also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1937 and 1938. He resigned from this position so he could speak freely in support of the Prime Minister's foreign policy.
Russell attended the Norway Debate, voting against the government. In the Commons Dining Room, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Simon approached Russell and Somerset de Chair at their table. Sir John asked, "May I ask which way you young people are going to vote?" To this, de Chair replied, "Against you".
